Watch cleaning apparatus



April 14, 1953 w. A. BUCK WATCH CLEANING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 8, 1947 INVENTOR.

Maj/m ,4. Back BY Jr's flier/26 April 14, 1953 w. BUCK 2,634,735

WATCH CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 8. 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

n BY Walte /'4. 11012. 9, J z'i flaw/la y.

April 14, 1953 w. A. BUCK WATCH CLEANING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 8, 1947 INVENTOR. Walter/1.811612 fitter/1&3.

BY 2 a A ril 14, 1953 w. A. BUCK 2,634,735

WATCH CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 8, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

I Mwfiver Back a 1 M M A z's Attorney,

Patented Apr. 14, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATCH CLEANING APPARATUS Walter A. Buck, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 8, 1947, Serial No. 772,606

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in watch cleaning apparatus for cleaning separated elements of watch movements, the principal object of the invention being to provide a device which will be highly emcient in use and economical in manufacture.

Other objects of the invention are to provide in an apparatus of this character an arrangement for washing the watch elements in a cleaning fluid and thereafter subjecting the washed elements to a rinsing fluid with a final operation of drying the watch elements after the rinsing operation.

A still further and equally important object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character in which the above described results are accomplished in sequence by a continuously operated machine, that is, one in which it is not necessary to discontinue operation to perform the separate functions and results ascribed to it.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view taken substantially on line 22 of Fig.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view of the invention taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the invention with the cover thereof removed;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the watch element carrying basket;

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail view of the same taken substantially on line 'I'I of Fig. 6; v

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional detail View taken substantially on line 99 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a suggested Wiring diagram embodied in the invention.

The several objects of my invention are accomplished by the preferred form of construction shown in the accompanying drawings in which a mounting or base plate is indicated at II]. To this base plate there are connected in any suitable manner, resilient buttons II which serve to prevent marring by the base plate, of va supporting surface on which the base plate In is mounted. Secured to this base plate If! as by means of attaching lugs I2 and bolts or screws I3, is a cover I4. This cover I4 has a relatively square opening I 5 formed in the top wall I 6 thereof normally closed by a plate I? and having an edge portion thereof terminatin into a substantial circular opening I8.

Beneath the cover I4 upon the base plate Ill at one end thereof is mounted a fluid container I9 adapted to contain a predetermined amount of cleaning fluid. A suitable gauge 29 is provided on the container [9 in order to observe the amount of fluid therein. A filling spout 2| of tubular formation is provided to facilitate filling the container with the cleansing fluid. The open end 22 of this spout 2| is presented through the cover It and may be closed by a suitable cap (not shown).

A conduit 23 opens communication between the cleansing fluid container I9 and a filling chamber 2 on the top of which chamber is mounted a bowl 25 and between this bowl and chamber 2.4 is a suitable screen 26. A central core 21 is arranged in the chamber 24 and at one side of this core is a valve structure 28 including a valve head 29 actuated by a valve plunger 30 normally urged outwardly by a spring 3| to hold the valve head 29 in closed position.

This chamber 24 is mounted upon a base 32' which in turn is mounted upon a face plate 33 of a motor 34.

Mounted on the base II! on the end portion thereof opposite that on which the container I9 is mounted is a container 32 similar to the container I9 and adapted to contain a rinsing fluid. That the contents thereof may be observed, there is provided a suitable gauge 33 similar to the gauge 20.

Both of the gauges 29 and 33 are visible through sight openings 34 formed in the front wall 35' of the cover I4.

A tubular filling spout 35 similar to the spout 2i communicates with the container 32 and the open end 36 thereof is presented through the top wall I6 of the cover I4 and may be closed by a suitable cap (not shown) The container 32 has communication with the chamber 24 by means of a conduit 31, passage through which is controlled by a valve structure 38. This valve structure 38 includes a valve head 39 operated by a plunger 49 moved outwardly by a spring 4| to yieldably hold the valve head 39 in' closed position. This valve structure may be of any approved construction.

The fluids from the containers I9 and 32 are delivered under pressure to the chamber 24 and thence into the bowl 25 by means of suitable motor driven pumps 42 and 43, respectively, of any approved construction.

The shaft 44 of the motor 34 extends through the core 21 into the bowl 25. On this shaft 44 within the bowl 25 and rotatable with the shaft is a cradle 45. This cradle comprises a base plate 46 upwardly from which extend retainer pins 41 which are adapted to retain on the base 46 a basket 49 within which the watch elements are confined during treatment by the apparatus. This basket 49 provides a plurality of vertically extending grooves 50 into certain of which the pins 41 are adapted to be confined. The basket 49 comprises a cover normally latched in closed position by a latch bar 52 and nut bearing latch pin 53 the arrangement being such that when the nut of the pin 53 is removed the bar 52 may be moved to permit removal of the cover 5|. If desired, this cover may be hingedly connected to the body of the basket and any approved latch employed.

Each container 19 and 32 provides a drain valve 54 .of any suitable construction, by means of which the contents of the containers l9 and 32 may be drained, there being suitable recesses 55' formed in the front Wall 35 of the cover I4 to accommodate these valves.

Mounted on the base plate I0 is a vertical plate 55 and extending horizontally from this plate 55 is a supporting plate 56. On this supporting plate 56 there are carried spaced bearing brackets 51 in which is journaled a cam shaft 58. On this cam shaft 58 are mounted cam discs 59, 60, 6 I, 62,

63, 64, and 65. Fixed to the shaft 58 is a driven gear 66 which meshes with a worm gear 61. The gear 61 is fixed to a shaft 68 of a motor 69. This shaft 68 is journaled in a bracket 10.

,Fixed on the shaft 68 is a, bevel gear 1|- This gear H meshes with a bevelgear 12 fixed to a shaft 13 journaled in the bracket 10. This shaft 13 has a cam 14 fixed thereto and this cam 14 works in a cam slot formed in a plate 16 of non-conductive material. The plate 16 is pivoted at 11' to a bracket 18. This plate carries contact clips 19 which alternately engage conductor fingers 11 which control the reversing circuit 89 of the motor 34.

Mounted on the plate 56 area plurality of switch structures 8|, 82, 83, 84 and 85 each of which includes a fixed contact finger 86 and a movable contact finger 81. The movable contact fingers 8'1 operatively engage the adjacent cams 60, 6], 62, 63, and 64 arranged upon and fixed to the shaft 58.

The cam 59 is engaged by a roller 88 carried at one end portion of a fulcrum arm 89 pivotally supported as at 90. The inner end portion 9| of this arm engages a pivotally supported lifting arm 9| which in turn engages the spring controlled plunger of the valve structure 28.

The cam 65 engages a roller 92 pivotally carried at one end of a fulcrum arm 94 pivotally supported as at 95. The opposite end of this arm 94 engages a pivotally supported lifting arm 96 which engages the spring controlled plunger of the valve structure 38.

Fig. 10 discloses the various cams 59 to 65 inclusive in their initial starting position. In the circuit illustrated in Fig. 10 is a main control switch 8! of any approved construction. The circuit also includes a starting switch 98 of any approved construction.

To complete a circuit to the motor 69 which drives the shaft 58 the switch 91 is closed and the starting switch held closed until the cam 62 actuates the adjacent switch arm 81 to move the same into contact with the arm 88. Rotation of the motor 69 will continue through one complete cycle of rotation of the cam 62. At the start of this rotation the cam 59 acts upon the roller 88' and pivots the lifting lever 9| to open the valve structure 28 to permit the admission of the cleaning fluid to the bowl 25. Substantially simultaneously with this operation of the cam 59, the cam 60 completes a circuit to the motor 42 and operation of this motor 42 will pump the cleaning fluid into the bowl 25. Prior to this time the basket with the watch elements to be cleaned and washed is positioned upon the cradle 45 within the bowl 25. When the cam 59 has rotated a predetermined distance the valve structure 28 will be closed and cam 63 is now operative to complete a circuit to the reversing circuit of the motor 34 to effect a reversing rotation of the basket.

The next step in the operation of the device is draining of the fluid from the bowl 25 after the reversing rotation of .the basket has terminated within the fluid. This draining of the .fluid takes place upon the engagement of a hill 99 of the cam 59 with the roller 88 which again efiec'ts opening of the valve structure 28 for the purpose stated.

Just prior to closing of the valve structure 28 the circuit to the motor 34 for rotation in one direction only will be completed by action of the cam 64 whereby to throw off cleansing fluid from the watch elements. After this operation has taken place the cam 65 will engage the roller 92 to effect opening of the valvestructure 38 and substantially simultaneously with this operation the circuit to the motor 43 is completed by action of the cam 6| whereby to force the rinsing fluid from the container 32 into the bowl 25.

After the valve structure 38 has been closed by action of the cam 65 the basket is again rotated in reverse direction by action of the motor 34, the circuit of which is controlled by the cam 63. Upon completion of this rinsing operation the valvestructure 38 is re-opened by operation of the cam 65 to permit the fluid to drain from the bowl 25 and during this opened condition of the valve structure 38 the basket is rotated in one direction to throw off any and all excess fluid. Thereafter upon closing of the valve structure 88 the watch elements are subjected to a drying operation while the basket is rotated in one direction under the control of the cam 54. This drying operation is accomplished as follows:

A drying motor I is rendered operative by this cam 64 and the heated air therefrom is conducted through a conduit'lfli into the bowl 25. This operation continues until the cam 54 has completed a predetermined cycle of movement. Upon completion of this operation the cam 62 will have completed its cycle of rotation at the completion of which the circuit to the motor 69 is terminated and the apparatus then becomes dormant ready for a complete new cycle of operation in the manner hereinbefore described by the closing of the starting switch 98.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have provided an apparatus for cleaning, rinsing and drying watch elements with the highest degree of efiiciency and within a minimum of time and effort.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A watch element cleaning apparatus comprising a bowl, a cradle in said bowl, a removable watch element supporting basket adapted to be supported in said bowl by said cradle, cleaning fluid delivery and draining means for said bowl, means for timin the period of operation of said cleaning fluid delivery and draining means, means for delivering to and draining from said bowl a rinsing fluid, means for rotating and reversely rotating said cradle in said cleaning and said rinsing fluid, means for timing the period of operation of said rotating means, means for timing the period of operation of said rinsing fluid delivery and draining means, means for rotating said cradle in one direction only while out of the liquid, means for timing the operation of said last named means, means for directing hot air into said bowl, and means for timing the operation of said directing means.

WALTER A. BUCK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 969,453 Boland Sept. 6, 1910 1,234,498 Seymour July 24, 1917 1,941,660 Collins Jan. 2, 1934 2,302,012 Dyer Nov. 17, 1942 2,348,631 Keehnel May 9, 1944 

